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SANFL Women's League

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Article Genealogy
Parent: South Australian National Football League Hop 4
Expansion Funnel Raw 38 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
1. Extracted38
2. After dedup0 (None)
3. After NER0 ()
4. Enqueued0 ()
SANFL Women's League
NameSANFL Women's League
Current season2024 SANFL Women's season
SportAustralian rules football
Founded2017
Inaugural2017
Teams10
ChampionNorwood
Most champsNorth Adelaide (3)
CeoDarren Chandler
Related compsSANFL
Websitesanfl.com.au/league/sanflw/

SANFL Women's League. The SANFL Women's League is the premier state-level Australian rules football competition for women in South Australia, governed by the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Established in 2017, the league was created to provide a dedicated pathway for female footballers following the establishment of the national AFL Women's competition. It features clubs from the traditional SANFL and has rapidly grown in stature, becoming a crucial talent feeder for the elite level.

History

The league's formation was announced in 2016 by the SANFL as a direct response to the surging popularity of women's football and the launch of AFL Women's. The inaugural season in 2017 commenced with five teams: Adelaide, North Adelaide, Norwood, South Adelaide, and West Adelaide. This expansion provided immediate opportunities for players beyond the existing South Australian Women's Football League. Significant growth followed, with the Sturt and Glenelg football clubs entering in 2019, the Woodville-West Torrens and Central District in 2021, and finally the Port Adelaide Magpies in 2023, completing the ten-team league aligned with the men's SANFL clubs.

Clubs

The league comprises ten clubs, each an affiliate of an existing SANFL league club. The founding clubs from 2017 are the Adelaide Crows, North Adelaide Roosters, Norwood Redlegs, South Adelaide Panthers, and West Adelaide Bloods. They were joined by the Sturt Double Blues and Glenelg Tigers in 2019. The Woodville-West Torrens Eagles and Central District Bulldogs entered in 2021, with the Port Adelaide Magpies being the final addition in 2023. Each club fields both a league and development team, fostering depth and player development across South Australia.

Season structure

The season typically runs from February to May, comprising a 14-round home-and-away fixture. Each team plays 14 matches, facing some opponents twice. Following the regular season, the top four teams on the ladder qualify for a finals series. This series follows a modified version of the AFL finals system, culminating in the Grand Final, which is held at a major venue such as Adelaide Oval or Thebarton Oval. The competition operates under the standard laws of Australian rules football as adapted by the AFL Commission, with minor local bylaws set by the SANFL.

Premierships

North Adelaide has been the most successful club, winning three premierships (2018, 2021, 2022). The Norwood Redlegs have won two titles (2019, 2023), while the inaugural premiership in 2017 was won by the Adelaide Crows. The South Adelaide Panthers claimed their first flag in 2020. Other clubs, including West Adelaide, Sturt, and Glenelg, have been regular finalists but are yet to win a premiership. The most recent decider, the 2023 SANFLW Grand Final, saw Norwood defeat North Adelaide.

Notable players

The league has been a prolific source of talent for the AFL Women's competition. Early marquee players like Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall represented the Crows in the league's first season. Numerous draftees have transitioned directly from SANFLW, including Hannah Ewings (North Adelaide to Port Adelaide), Zoe Prowse (Sturt to Adelaide), and Jasmine Simmons (Norwood to Sydney Swans). Award winners within the league, such as goalkicking champions Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) and league best-and-fairest recipients like Brittany Perry (South Adelaide), have also gained significant recognition.

Media coverage

Broadcast coverage has expanded alongside the league's growth. Television coverage is provided by the Seven Network through its affiliate Seven Adelaide, which broadcasts the weekly match of the round and the Grand Final. All matches are streamed live and on-demand via the digital platform SANFL Now, a service of the SANFL. Radio coverage includes match broadcasts and commentary on stations like FiveAA and ABC Radio Adelaide. News and analysis are extensively covered by local publications such as The Advertiser and dedicated sports media like SANFL Media and Women's Australian Rules Football outlets.

Category:Australian rules football competitions in South Australia Category:Women's Australian rules football leagues Category:SANFL